Clasp for strap or ribbons.



R. KING.

CLASP FOR STRAPS 0R RIBBQNS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. '0. tan.

1,272,675. Patented July 16, 1918.

" Burns- ING, or PLAI VILL ,M SSAC SETTS, assrsnon To BUGIBEE AND NILES co.,

or NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

onAsrron STRAPS on RIBBONS.

. 12ml! whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUS KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainville,

in the county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Clasps for Straps or Rib- Y bons, of which the following is a specification.

. My invention is an improved clasp for fastening the straps or ribbons of wristwatches. The object of my improvement is to provide a device forthis purpose which may "be quickly and easily clasped and unclasped and which will fasten the'strap in place with greater security. Further objects of the improvement are to provide a clasp. which is heat andornamental' in appearance Without pro] ectlons or sharp edges on its surface, lia- 'ble to catch in the garments of the wearer or on other objects; while being simple in struc- 'ture, stanch and durable, and proof against derangement ordamage under hard usage.

the drawings Figure l is a, view showing the parts of V y ,improved clasp applied 'to I the wriststrap or ribbon;

, .Fig. 2, an enlarged, plan view of the main i clasp-member; v v

. Fig. 3, a side view of the same;

Fig. 4;, a sectional view 'taken in a vertical plane through both claspmembers and showing'the latter in engaged relation;

1 "Fig. 5, an enlargedfplan view of the per forated, bottom .plate of the main clasp} member; and c j' i Fig. 6, a similar view of the coijperatlng clasp-slide which is provided with ballended studs or projections for engaging the 7 openings in the perforated plate.

clasp or. fastener comprlses tWOGSSGIltlitl 1 Referring first to Fig. 1, my improved I parts: the main memberC adapted to be 7 hooked into the looped end of the strap or ribbon R and the slide S formed to embrace the strap R and provided with'projections 6, Z). for insertion through apertures on the under side of the member 0.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 2, and 4, the clasp-member C isconstructedin" '55 two pieces comprisinga' flat plate P, formed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,198.

at one end with opposite, inturned prongs it, 7i adapted to hook into the looped end 9" of the strap R, see Fig. 1; and a shell or backing Dhaving its rim crimped or rolled around the edges of the plate P to fasten it in superimposed position thereon. Fig. 5 illustrates the plate P in detail and it will be noted that its edges are cut away or recessed at e, e to adapt the rim cl of the shell D to be rolled over them to form a flush joint, with the prongs or hooks h, h projecting at one side without leaving any sharp corners or projections. Betweenthe two hooks h, h the.

plate 79 is recessed or cut away along'its edge at 6 and a lip d on the shell D is bent down into this opening to hold the plate from slipping out of place when assembled with the shell, see Figs. 1 and 4. As shown in Fig. 4' the marginal edges of the plate P abut the inner face of the shell D along its sides and the top of the shell is swelled up-, wardly or crowned to provide a Space for the studs 6,7). on the slide S which proj ect through its openings. As illustrated in Figs, 2 and 3 the top of the shell D slopes from its highest point toward the rear with a relatively flat face, while'towar'd the front it ismore rounded to correspond with the 'rounded sides, this form or contour providing asmooth, unbroken surface, while also heightening the ornamental efl'ect of the clasp. I

Referring-to Fig. 5, theplate P is punched from fiatstockand is perforated with substantially parallel slits s, s and s to form two opposite, lateral bars or spring-memfbers t, t. The central slit 3 extends straight across theplate P, andat a slight distance inwardly from 1ts ends are clrcular openlngs 1o, 0 through which the studs 6,?) on the slide S may be inserted. The two outer, parallel slits s, s in the plate P are also straight throughout their central portions, but opposite the openings 0, 0 they curve outwardly in the crescent-shapedends 7", f to provide for a uniform thickness of the cross-bars t, 2? at all points. At their centers the slits s, s are notched on the sides with triangular cuts a, n, these being provided merely to add to the ornamental appearance of the perforated design. Through the above described arrangement of the perforations the plate P is provided with the two cooperating springniemberst, t formed integral therewith and adapted to'spring over the ball-ended studs b, b to lock the two parts of the olasp to-" gether as later explained. It is obvious, U: however that-the. vshape .1 ofrthe perforations @mig-ht bevaried withcurves .orpscrollsof:

different design to provide for the same action of the spring-members, and I do notas here shown is construotedin r eetangular shape wlth two opposite, cro'ss-barsJcJc and a third intermediate bar [2 extending be},

tween its sides, in parallel relation with each 15, other. The eentral bar id is arched. above.

the plane of the two end-bars la, is, toallow the strap Rto passunder'it'as itisjdrawn,

through the slide in the nanner illustrated {in Fig. 1. On. the top of thejeros's-bar are the vertically-projecting. studs 1), b which are formed with r'edueerhshanks and ph y: p d 611.618 fb, fi g y, observedthat the,o omplete. clasp. when fastened together presents a smootm unhroken surface; contour with0ut-;;sharp,;corners or 1 Qgreater inl'diameter'than that, of the open;

ings 0,0 in, the plate P. The studsZ), b are 5 preierab'ly riveted or swaged Onto the cross-bar 7a to provide a secure joint therebetween, jandare spaced apartcquidistant with the openings- 0,. 0 in theplate P.

The manner of 4 applying my improved I v the opposite end lofthe strap; and the latter can be drawn through its sides t,o'..ad]-ust it s in position thereon while the Strap loose.

' tween the strap andjslide, llQWGVIQEiZO preventthe latters free movement, andwhen 7 t s ap isdrawn igh ly ar un th Wrist th s d is he1d'fro is iding th eon: Th asstrap R is provided witha loop;.at its opposite endby whiohitis fastened tothe lug ,f or ear on the side of. the ,watch, leaving the 3 clasp end free. This latter endeisnirrserted .through the oppositeflugon thewatch and is then turned backa-ndolasped :tothe slide S, the latter being-{adjusted in proper position to draw the strap tightly}around the wrist. In clasping tlie two membersC and i I .will thereby be ca usedtospr-ing thebars t, t

ileo apart t'o allow their entrance Itherebetween,

, the ball-ends b, snapping into place to above thetop of ,tl1e1plate.,as, sl1 own in the v ,sectionalview, Fig. 4:, ,Inthisway the two parts otfthe olasp are seouredg together;

{ against any lateral .or longitudinal, foroe Figshtand 6, the slide 10 S may be of anydes'i'red Conformation, and

,of the whole strueture 8 together it is onlyvneeessary toregister I 55 the ball-ends'b, bf ofthe'studs 7 Z) on the 7 i efi with the. ope ing 02 the p a l, and to then exerta slightpressure against the top of the nembenQ, The studs 6,1),

7 ,the structure fandfepdperat on 10 member upwardly, from; thegslid'e S4, The halls-ends bf b; ofthe. studs -12, b.:will then be withdrawn from the openings 0, '0 by their action of prying the spring-members t, t

apart, and in either event, whether fasten ang er unfastening' the clasp, only, single, ,SllIlPlB movement is requlred, renderlng its operation especially easy and convenient.

It is to be noted that when the parts of the, clasp are, fasteneditogetheif, the shell or back D of the member -ICQ cQmpletely covers and hides the slide S and the. partswvhich ooiiperate ,to effect, v the lolasping, action, 1 That is. tos y, the tu s''lor pr jecti ns 2b, ere

injclosed, within the shell: ,I) and preyented from protruding into position where they would be liable to,. catch in the. garments of the wearenhor 'on objeets carried ,in the hands, or agent. thereto; It is, alsogto be projections liable to catch other obj ects and inter'efere with the freejmoyement of the hand; My improvement also provides a, clasp. which,servestoffajsten"thejends of v a th raw-together n re eglyand sec y '30 clasp touse is, as'ffollo'ws]: Theend of the] strap .R Ii's doubled over and sewedpr otherwise fastened, to form'the loop' r and the prongs h, onthemerhber C are then hooked. into its sides with ,thefp'oints,engag ,35 :ing the, fold of the fabrie-o'rleather to hold it in place, .The slide S isvfslippedion over,

en wi h theius'ual tine;wh elpi eslenting e ifiiproved structure compr se elmin m m it -pertsaiid he 1,

erm y e;l i ".lk.a P;e tempe ll ut n e m nner; expl ined t lipr ride tier. man fa i1ring and assemblingthe' gatnafrqlatively I we r LlQ'W cost. 1 There is gh ,irlotionaljresistance be -1 i th ipieirf nge nT herl s r e. to e bellishjanol ornament nappeare egub ides P l ,9; it eimp eved fe ti 'el ef t e 0p- 1 56 1. epr hg-ele e s Leer rbe 1i, zizrr ade int gral with he. 'm'eu' n. pi Pa Threugh t i [arrangement I avoid the eoniplieatljon of xtra-epri gwlr s KOn'ASQ Q S J and: at the 83 1118111118 add to the anddurability V rio s, med fie ione ightabe ma in d e parts of the device, orlin the, 1 narn1erof,applying itit se, withoutldep rt l jg frb fthei p on cop let the}? inven ion; h efe- Withme'ntv shown and deseribed, what 'l fclai m 1.' In a clasp; for .;theostraps;and;rihbons of; wr st-watches for for like' Qpnrpos'es, the

v.oemle jnatiim with a elide'edatt d f r e i a vm on, :thei s aig ,andf p iovid u with, 10 ,11-

ended studs of a plate-member having perforations fbrming two integral parallel spaced yieldable bars with circular openings in their opposed edges adapted to admit the balls on the ends of the studs therebetween by snapping them into place therethrough.

2. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, ribbons or the like, the combination with a substantially flat plate pieced with openings to form opposite, spaced springmembers having circular apertures at their ends, of a crowned shell surmounting the top of the plate with its rim rolled over the edges thereof to form a flush joint therebetween, and a slide-member having studs with spherically-shaped ends adapted to be snapped into place between the spring-members with their protruding ends inclosed and protected by the shell.

3. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, ribbons or the like, the combination with a plate-member having prong-like hooks at one end and perforations in its main part to provide integral, spaced springarms with circular apertures at their ends, of a relatively thin shell formed with a crowned top overlying the plate and having its rim rolled over the edges of the latter with the hooks projecting at the side, and a slide-member having studs with sphericallyshaped ends adapted to be snapped through the apertures between the spring-arms to secure the two parts of the clasp together.

4. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, ribbons or the like, the combination with a base-plate perforated with openings to form integral, spaced spring-arms having circular apertures at their ends, a cooperating slide-member having ball-ended studs adapted to be forced through the apertures in the spring-arms to seat their balls in position above the base-plate, and a crowned shell surmounting the top of the base-plate with its rim secured to the edges thereof to adapt it to inclose the ends of the studs projecting therethrough whereby to provide a smooth unbroken covering for the two '00- operating parts of the clasp.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUFUS KING.

Witnesses:

HAROLD W. MASON, JONATHAN P. EDWARDS, Jr.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington,.D. G. 

